April 8, 2011
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Affordably Build Your Brand
FedEx Global Brand Management Director Monica Skipper shares a cost-effective way to build a bigger brand for your small business.
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Much has been made of some excellent mobile apps and tablet apps that let users stay productive on the go. But let's face it—the majority of your work is still done at your desk, and much of it, perhaps, in a Web browser.
Enter the humble Web apps that, while overshadowed a bit by the smartphone revolution, are still the bread and butter bookmarks of daily workplace productivity.
We've highlighted five free online tools that are simple, clean and built to knock out those cumbersome work tasks, no downloads required.
Got a few bookmarks that you can't get through the work day without? Share the wealth in the comments.
1. Zamzar
There are few things more frustrating than receiving an important file that you can't open. Zamzar is an online tool that can convert a wide range of file formats. Simply upload the file, choose the output format, enter an e-mail address, and you'll get a new version delivered to your inbox.
Converting text documents may not seem like an incalculable feat, but Zamzar can translate many audio and video formats as well.
2. Ge.tt
E-mail attachments can be cumbersome, especially with larger files. If you're looking for a dead-simple way to share in the cloud (especially if you're still lamenting the death of Drop.io), give Ge.tt a go.
Want to read more on Web apps? Check these out:
Two clicks will upload your images, docs, zip files, etc. and generate a tidy link that you can ping over to your coworkers. They can view certain files in their browser or download whatever they need from the package.
Ge.tt storage is temporary (unless you create an account), so use it for quick transfers, not cloud archiving.
3. Ninite
Setting up a new PC is a surefire way to kill your day. Connecting the cables and transferring your data is only half the battle. Then you need to hunt down all the apps you use regularly.
Ninite streamlines the process. Check off all the browsers, readers and media players you need on your new machine and download them all in one shot via an automated installer. Best of all, Ninite eliminates the extra "junk" (toolbars, add-ons) that sometimes come packaged with common applications.
4. CopyPasteCharacter
If you work on any legal, scientific or multi-lingual documents throughout the day, you may have a need to add certain symbols to the text that are not immediately available on your keyboard.
You could go into the special characters map in your word processor, or if you're feeling particularly nerdy, memorize the Alt key codes that you need.
But better yet, why not throw open a browser tab with CopyPasteCharacter.com and snag your symbols with one click? You can even copy the HTML values if you're working in code.
5. LucidChart
Need a visual aide to get your point across? PowerPoint has its flaws, and Photoshop requires some requisite skills even if you're just doing the basics.
LucidChart, on the other hand, is a drag-and-drop way to create impressive flowcharts and diagrams right in your browser. Pop your shapes onto the graph, pull down some arrows, add descriptions, colors and titles, and you've got a professional diagram you'd be proud to show clients.
A free LucidChart account allows two people to collaborate on a document, 25 MB of online storage, and a maximum of 60 objects per document. Inexpensive paid options offer more collaborative and storage features.
There's also a handy Chrome browser app.
Image credit: kemie
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JASON SHERRILL 12 months ago
I second Michael Wong's recommendation of Jing, especially if you work in any sort of tech support or design job where you need to help or get input from others, it's a real time saver.Also, I'll suggest www.simplefileexchange.com as an even easier alternative to Ge.tt for sharing files with someone else or even copying a file from one computer to another, such as is common for sys admins supporting machines in remote networks.